Wang Yi highest ranking Beijing official to visit Myanmar since coup
China pledged to continue to foster friendly ties with Myanmar and bolster economic relations as Foreign Minister Wang Yi became the highest ranking official from Beijing to visit the country since last year’s coup.
“China appreciates Myanmar’s firm China-friendly policy, supports the people of Myanmar in exploring a development path in line with their national conditions and supports Myanmar in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests and national dignity in international forums,” Wang told his counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin, according to a statement from the foreign ministry.
Beijing has sought close relations with Myanmar, regardless of the government of the day, and Wang is expected to chair a foreign ministers’ meeting of the Beijing-led Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism today.
The government-in-exile has criticised China’s inclusion of the junta in the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and has criticised Wang’s visit for lending legitimacy to the junta.
The government-in-exile had previously urged Beijing to “take action to help reinstate … the legitimate government elected by the people of Myanmar”.
Speaking on Friday, the day before Wang arrived in Bagan, Major General Zaw Min Tun, the junta’s deputy information minister, said the visit was a recognition of Myanmar’s military rulers, who overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.
Wunna Maung Lwin told Wang that he appreciated “China’s selfless assistance to Myanmar’s national development”, according to the statement by the foreign ministry.
He said he would continue to support Beijing’s position on issues such as human rights, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang – all areas that have prompted criticism from the West.
Chinese foreign ministry statements tend to emphasise statements supporting Beijing’s policies by foreign officials, and Myanmar has yet to issue its own account of the meeting.
The ministers also agreed to speed up delayed projects along the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, a project that forms part of the Belt and Road Initiative for Eurasian infrastructure. The two sides would set up a cross-border electricity grid, ensure the smooth operation of a joint oil and gas pipeline and strengthen trade ties, the statement added.
The 1,700km corridor connects Mandalay in central Myanmar with Kunming city in China’s southwestern Yunnan province.
It will give the landlocked province access to the Indian Ocean – through which much of the oil and gas from the Gulf travels to East Asia.
China is highly dependent on the Strait of Malacca for such deliveries, and being able to import oil and gas through the economic corridor would reduce its reliance and potentially remove a chokepoint in the nation’s energy security.
The statement also said China would import more agricultural products from Myanmar and increase direct flights to help students to return to China.
Wang will meet Wunna Maung Lwin again along with their counterparts from Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam for today’s meeting of the LancangMekong Cooperation group.
The Beijing-led initiative focuses on development along the Mekong, which is known as the Lancang in China, and is set to discuss issues such as hydroelectric dams and water quality monitoring, as well as easing tensions over the use of the river.
The trip to Myanmar is the first leg of Wang’s five-nation tour of Southeast Asia.
He will also visit Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia before attending a Group of 20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
China … supports Myanmar in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests
FOREIGN MINISTER WANG YI